Overview The understanding of preserving normal tissues to achieve surgical goals drives surgeons to adapt to minimally invasive spine surgery. The current posterior microscopic lumbar diskectomy is still considered a…
General Considerations Degenerative spine disease, or spondylosis, affects everyone—the infirm and the healthy, the sedentary and the athletic, the young and the old. Spondylosis occurs throughout the spine but is…
Classifications of Spinal Fractures Historical Review The classification, management, surgical approaches, and stabilization techniques for thoracolumbar fractures have been undergoing continuous evolution over the past few decades. Appropriate classification of…
Overview The posterior approach is undoubtedly the most utilized approach in all of spine surgery. It remains the workhorse for exposure of the entire spine, from occiput to sacrum, during…
Overview Although earlier reports described the use of small facet screws to facilitate spinal fusion, it was Roy-Camille, in 1970, who promoted the use of the pedicle as a point…
Overview Surgical management of neoplastic and infectious lesions of the lumbar spine involves extensive preoperative planning to ensure proper patient selection and operative approach. Despite the differences in patient selection…
Overview History Mixter and Barr first provided the description of a herniated disk causing sciatica in 1934. The surgical technique outlined the treatment of lumbar disk herniation at that time,…
Overview Anterior lumbar spinal surgery has been performed in various forms for decades. Müller described an anterior approach to the lumbar spine as early as 1906, and the anterior approach…
Overview Because of the biomechanical features of the region, the most common site of injury in the lower spine is the thoracolumbar junction. The thoracic spine is stabilized by the…
Overview The cervicothoracic junction (CTJ), from C7 to T4, presents a particularly challenging region for surgical approach secondary to the unique anatomy of the upper thoracic cage, the presence of…
